Ecological Studies on the Soil and Vegetation of Krusadi Group of Islands in the Gulf of Manaar

The account presents the plant ecology with a description of soils and other related features of the Krusadi group of islands situated in the Gulf of Manaar approximately between 9°14'-9°15'N and 79°10.5'-79°14.5' E. Data on pH, organic matter contents, total soluble salts, sodium chloride contents and calcium carbonate contents in the soils of different habitats are presented in tabular form and an attempt made to correlate vegetation with the soil features. A classification of vegetation situations rather than strictly vegetation type has been brought out and comparison made with the main neighbouring island of Rameswaram with similar climate. The paper includes a vegetation map of the area prepared during the field work.